Currently, the library provides access to more than 20,000 electronic book titles in several subject areas through our online catalog GULLiver. For one example, eBrary has thousands of books in twenty subject areas, including more than 1400 law titles. We do not yet subscribe to any services that support downloading ebooks to your personal devices, but publishers are beginning to increase downloadable access to scholarly titles. We look forward to offering this option when we can.

For content you can use on mobile devices, the AudioCaseFiles service provides access to recorded cases downloadable as MP3 files. In addition, most online journals publish articles in unencrypted PDF files (such as HeinOnine and JSTOR). You can view these on mobile devices that read these formats. Also, WestlawNext provides an option to send documents to your Kindle. Currently, there are no options to download books from our catalog to view on ebook readers.

We’ve looked into lending ebook readers such as the Kindle or Barnes & Noble Nook. However, so far we’ve focused library resources on databases and content accessed through a web browser. The Kindle is difficult to configure for institutional access, and we have not seen demand for titles available on this platform that we don’t have elsewhere.

DC Public Library and many reciprocal local jurisdictions provide access to downloadable ebooks. All Georgetown Law students may get a library card from the DC Public Library and through them for other local libraries, and download books to a variety of devices. DC Public Library offers a service called OverDrive, which provides access to some audio books, electronic books, videos and music. Their law subject area currently includes 79 books, mostly from Nolo Press. Other local library systems provide options for ebook downloads.

Some of our librarians are great fans and avid users of the public libraries’ downloadable books, so if you need help, or more information, let us know.

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